Apparatus for applying bushings to printing-blocks.



No. 632,783. Patented Sept. l2, I899. E. L. FARR. APPARATUS FOR APPLYING BUSHINGS T0 PBINTINEBLOCKS.

(Application filed Apr. 8, 1899 (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD L. FARR, OF WENONAII, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR-APPLYING BUSHINGS TO PRINTING-BLOCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming-part of Letters Patent No. 632,783, dated September 12, 1899.

Application filed Apri18,1899. Serial No. 712 ,226. (No model.)

To all. whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. FARR, of Wenonah, Gloucester county, New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Applying Bushings to Printing-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to apparatus for applying bushings to printing-blocks; and it consists of certain improvements, all of which are set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

The object of rnyinvention is to apply bushings to the back of large'printing-blooks, such as employed in the printing of oil-cloth, &c., the construction of which printing-blocks and the method of clamping inthe machines is shown in the application Serial No. 712,225, filed April 8, 1899. 1

As the clamping-screw which passes through the form-bed must enter the bushings absolutely true to avoid binding or injury to the threads, it is essential that the bushings shall be accurately placed in the back of the printin g-block, so that the axes of the screw-thrcaded holes shall be exactly at right angles to the back of the block. As the bushings are formed on the exterior with coarse screw threads and with which they are screwed into suitable holes previously prepared in the back of the block, it is essential that their entry into the wood shall be at right angles to the surface thereof. Otherwise it would be impossible to quickly and accurately clamp the.

. tains several square feet of surface) the exact locations where the holes are to come, so that the blocks shall have the holes similarly disposed, and thereby be made interchangeable. After so marking the blocks the same are placed'upon a pad with the. printing or engraved surface resting thereon, and said pad, with its block, is then arranged upon a boringmachine and the holes accurately bored at right angles to the back surface of the block. The block in this condition is then ready for the reception of the metallic bushings. The

body of these bushings or the diameter at the roots of the external threads is preferably of the exact diameter of the holes. A guideplate consisting of a large flat surface adapted to rest upon the back of the block and having an aperture therein exactly at right angles to the under surface of said guide-plate is then laid on the back of the block and over the hole in ,which the bushings are to be placed. A bushing is then inserted into the guide-plate, and the outer circumference of its outer threads exactlyfits the aperture in said guide-plate, and consequently said plate holds the bushings temporarily at exactly right angles to the back surface of the printin g-block. A suitable ratchet screw-driver or wrench is then applied to the bushing, and atv the same time the latter is forced toward the accuracy in the location and position of these I bushings within the block shall be secured, and the present method has been developed after considerable experience and experiment and fulfils all the requirements for perfa'ct work.

My improvements will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus for inserting the bushings in the back of the printing-block and shows the latter in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the block, the bushing, and the guide. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the bushing. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the guide, and Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views of the'modified forms of the bushing.

His atable upon which a flat ad G is adapted to be supported and shifte A is the printing-block inverted, with the engraved or printing surface B resting upon the pad G. This printing-block is of large- IOC area, covering several square feet, and being comparatively thin it requires to be clamped at numerous places over its back to the formbed of the press. This is accomplished by inserting in the wood of the back of block metallicbushings D. The back of the block at predetermined places is accurately bored with holes at right angles to the back surface, and said holes are of the diameter of the body portion of the bushing H-that is to say, the diameter of the hole C is approximately equal to the diameter of the bushing at the roots of the outer teeth P-so that theteeth shall find a strong hold upon the wood exterior of said hole, but without any tendency to split the wood by forcing a solid body of greater diameter than the hole into it.

The bushing, as set out in my application liereinbefore referred to, has a central screwthreaded aperture '0 of small diameter, into which the clamping-screws from the form-bed pass, and-also is provided with a notch 11 at the top, into which to place the screw-driver bit for screwing thebushing into the hole.

F is a' guide-plate made flat upon its bottom, so as to rest upon the block A. It is made of extended area, so as to prevent any uneven support, and'is also of such weight that it will retain its position unless positively moved under "considerable exertion. guide-plate F has an upwardly-extending hub E, provided with an aperture e at exactly right angles to the under surface, so that the bushingD in being guided through said aperture is held at exactly right angles to the back of the printing-block and in alinement with the hole 0 therein. The diameter of the hole e of the guide-plate is such as to just receive the bushing and enable the outer edges of the teeth P thereof to be guided therein, as indicated in Fig. 2. In this manner, no matter how irregular the lower surface of the bushing may be due to the termination of the screwthreads, the bushing is forced to enter the wood in exactly the proper manner to insure its being located therein with the axes of the small screw-threaded aperture 0 at exactly right angles to the back surface of the block. When the parts are in the relative positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a ratchet screw-driver M, having the bit m, is then placed in position upon the bushing, and downward pressure is applied by a shaft I, which is depressed by means of the lever L, link K, and treadle J. While this pressure is applied, the ratchet screw-driver M is operated by hand and the bushing forced into the wood while being guided by the guide-plateE.

I would point out that by having the guideplate E loose upon the backofthe wood block it automatically adjusts itself over the hole 0 as the bushing entersthe same; but in the entire operation the said guide-plate insures the bushing traveling at exactly right angles to the back of the printing-block and in direct alinement with the holes therein. 7 The bit m, no matter what its construction This surface may be screw-threaded to correspond to the screw-threads P of the bushing. This,

however, is undesirable, because if the bushing did not at once enter the wood of the printing-block it might raise the guide-plate from the surface thereof unless positively held down. Under the circumstances, therefore, I prefer that the hole 6 shall be smoothbored.

By this apparatus and process greatrapidity and accuracy is secured in applying the bushings; but it is self-evident that the pressure and power for screwing the bushings into the wood may be accomplished in any suitable manner, even by the use of an ordinary large screw-driver. In the case of Fig. 5 the screwdriver would have a square end to fit into the socket d, while in the case of Fig. 6 the screwdriver or wrench would have a square socket to fit over the square projection d of the bushing.

Having now described my'invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Means for applying metallic bushings to a wooden, printing-block having an aperture extending at right angles from the back sura Wooden printing-block having an aperture extending at right angles from the back suri no face, consisting of the combination of a loosely supported guide-plate having a fiat under surface adapted to rest upon the flat back of the printing-block about the hole therein and also having an aperture at right angles to said V flat under surface and of greater diameter, than the aperture in the wood, and of sub stantially the same diameter as the threaded exterior of the bushingv to be inserted in said aperture whereby said bushing is guided be.-

plate into the hole of the wooden printingblock and is caused to enter the block-in a line at right angles to its back surface, a supfore and during itspassage from the guideportor table for the printing-block,- a pres- 1 sure device for applying a downward pressure upon the bushing ina direction toward the wooden block, and a device for rotating the bushing while subjected to the downward pressure and guided in the guide-plate.

3. Means for applying metal-lie bushings to a wooden printing-block having an aperture extending at right angles from the back surfaee,e,onsisting of the combination of a100selysupported guide-plate having a fiat under surface adapted to rest upon the flat back of the printing-block about the hole therein and also having an aperture at right angles to said flat under surface and of greater diameter than the aperture in the wood, and of substantially the same diameter as the threaded exterior of the bushing to be inserted in said aperture whereby said bushing is guided before and during its passage from the guideplate into the hole of the wooden printingblock and is caused to enter the block in a line at right angles to its back surface, a support or table for the printing-block, a pressure device forapplyingadownward pressure upon the bushing in a direction toward the wooden block, a device for rotating the bushing While subjected to the downward pressure and guided in the guide-plate, and a pad of uniform thickness adapted to'receive the engraved or printed surface of the printingblock and movable over the surface of the table or support.

4. Means for applying metallic bushings to a wooden printing-block having an aperture extending at right angles from the back surface,consisting of the combination of a loosely supported guide-plate having a flat under surface adapted to rest upon the flat back of the printing-block about the hole therein and also having an aperture at right angles to said fiat under surface and of greater diameter than the aperture in the wood, and of substantially the same diameter as the threaded exterior of the bushing to be inserted in said aperture. whereby said bushing is" guided before and during its passage from the guideplate into the hole of the wooden printingblock and is caused to enter the block in a line at right angles to its back surface and a device for rotating the bushing while subjeeted to the downward pressure the said device consisting of a rotating spindle or shank having an irregular surface adapted to fit the configuration of the upper surface of the bushing and of a diameter less than the diameter 0f the hole in the guide plate.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

ETHVD. Ti. FARR. 

